Can't make my mind up if it has been another colour at some point. I can't see why where its chipped, it would be darker? I know Fender USA used to paint over other colours but I've never heard of MIJ doing the same? Some of the paintwork looks dull that maybe poorly polished cellulose? If it's cellulose over polyurethane, it could have reacted and that may also account for the lumpy bits around the neck plate.